The Equinox (Volume I, Number IX)

ROSA IGNOTA Into his silence; from the earth where he Reigns in his silent, sunless dignity One hope still blossoms, one last flower still blows Upon the mystic earth, my Rose, my Rose, XIV THE BEGINNING Rose of the gardens of old Babylon, Red, scarlet Rose of fire in the breast of light :— I had a dream of thee, my Babylon ; Yea; all thy petals were crimson with delight: And under the soft stars, the silent night Grew deeper, deeper, till the heart o the world Lay bare before me, with no robe to don Save the lucent veil of spirit, argent-white ; And then there came a voice: Arise! Smite! Smite! Ere the portal of the temple may be won! Crash down the walls! Lend all thy hidden might! I, in the bosom of the deep impearled, Cry from the cloud-place of the Underworld. Let the gold banner of the day be unfurled That. I may manifest the secret curled In the darkling bosom of the world’s great night! Then I arose in majesty, and came, Spurning the loves of the world for thee, for thee, For that my soul had quenched all meaner flame, Than the flame that burned still for thy majesty!